Tool for moving and positioning pack-off assemblies



TOOL FOR MOVING AND POSITIONING PACK-OFF ASSEMBLIES- Aug. 15, 1944. w. E. GEAN 1- AL Filed Feb. 26, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 il ffl'iea/u JIZR.

7:? 5 EN TORS ATTORNEYS.

Aug. 15, 1944.

TOOL FOR MOVING AND POSITIONING PACK-OFF ASSEMBLIES W. E. GEAN ET AL File d Feb. 26. 1 942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 15, 1944 TOOL I OR MOVING AND POSITIONING PACK-OFF ASSEMBLIES William E. Gean, Olla, and Mayburn Ralph Dougherty, Bossier, La.

Application February 26, 1942, Serial No. 432,538

3 Claims.

This invention relates to Well tubing plugs or pack-off plugs, the primary object of the invention being to provide a plug of this character, constructed in such a way that the plug may be readily and easily removed and replaced.

An important object of the invention is to provide a combined running and pulling tool which will grip the plug and securely hold the plug as it is being forced to its operative position within the tubing. 7

Another object of the invention i to provide a tool which may be operated to release the tubing plug or pack-off plug, when the -plug has been properly positioned within the well tubing, to accomplish its purpose.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein described,

ma} be made within the scope of what is claimed,

without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through well tubing illustrating a pack-off assembly and tool constructed in accordance with the invention, for positioning or removing the pack-off assembly, the pack-off assembly securing fingers being shown as moved to release the pack-off assembly.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view through the upper portion of the tool.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view through a modified form of removal tool.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the well tubing is indicated by the reference character 5 and as shown adjacent sections of the tubing are connected by mean of the coupling indicated at 6, the coupling being so arranged that when the tubing sections are connected, a space will be provided between the adjacent ends of the tubing, for purposes to be hereinafter more fully described.

The pack-off assembly, includes the main or plug section I which is formed with a threaded extension to receive the internal threads formed at the lower end of the section 8 of th pack-off assembly, securing the section 8 to the plug. An

enlargement indicated at 9 is formed on the.

section 8, and presents an inclined or tapered surface over which the spring fingers I0 move,

spreading the spring fingers to positions so that the shoulders II on the spring fingers, will be exposed to engage the lower edge of the upper section of the tubing, to secure the pack-off assembly within the tubing. The spring fingers l0 pass through openings in the ring l2 which is held stationary on the pipe I3, the pipe l3 being formed with external threads to cooperate with the internal threads formed at the upper end of the section 8, connecting the pipe I 3 with the section 8. The upper ends of the fingers l0 are secured to the pipe l3, by means of the bands l4 that are shown as tightly gripping the upper ends of the fingers l0.

Secured on the pipe I3, is a collar [5 that has an inwardly extended flange presenting a shoulder l6 under which the lugs ll of the spring fingers I8 engage. These spring fingers l8 are normally urged outwardly to engage the shoulder l6. Surrounding the spring fingers I8. is a sleeve l9 that is formed with inclined surfaces 20 that are adapted to engage the inclined surfaces of the spring fingers l8 to urge the spring fingers l8 inwardly, when the sleeve I9 is pulled upwardly, thereby causing the lugs IT to disengage th shoulder l6, releasing the upper section of the device or jar section, from the pack-ofi assembly, to the end that the upper section of the device may be removed, releasing the pack-off assembly.

It will of course be understood that the sleeve I9 is carried on the section 22 of the pipe jar, the section 22 carrying the striking pin 23 that strikes the upper end of the pipe 24 to loosen the spring fingers, when it is desired to remove the apparatus. It will also be understood that the section 8 is formed with a central bore communicating with the pipes l 3 and 24, so that fluid may pass upwardly therethrough.

It might be stated that when a pack-off assembly has been positioned in well tubing for a short period, well conditions cause the pack-off assembly to become stuck, and it cannot be removed by a direct pull on the pack-off assembly removing apparatus. It therefore becomes necessary to break the pack-off assembly loose by a tool commonly known in oil pumping, as a jarring tool.

As shown by Fig. 1 of the drawings, the jarring tool, which includes striking pin 23, has been dropped, striking the pipe 24 which moves the pipe l3 and ring l2 downwardly. As the ring I2 moves over the spring fingers ID, the shoulders of the fingers are moved inwardly out of contact with the sections of the tubing, and the entire pack-01f assembly drops a few inches. Further action of the striking pin will tend to loosen the pack-off assembly, so that it may be pulled from the tubing by the fingers l8, which move into engagement with the shoulder I6 of the collar I 5.

In the form of the invention as shown by Figure 6 of the drawings, the sleeve l9 and fingers I8 have been eliminated and the tool comprises spring fingers 25 that have inwardly extended lugs 26 at their free ends adapted to engage within the annular groove 2! formed at the upper end of the pipe section 24. The inner surfaces of the spring fingers 25 are inclined as at 28 to be engaged by the head 29 formed at one end of the hammer or releasing section 30, to the end that when the section 30 is pulled upwardly, a camming action will take place at the inclined surfaces 28 of thefingers, spreading the fingers to release the pipe 24.

It will of course be understood that the apparatus is connected with the usual line that extends over the usual pulleys that in turn are operated to raise or lower the apparatus within the well tubing.

What is claimed is:

1. A tool for removing a pack-off assembly held within well tubing by spring fingers and havin a vertically movable ring engaging said fingers and adapted to move the fingers to their inactive positions, said tool embodying spring fingers adapted to connect with the pack-01f assembly to lift the pack-ofi assembly from the well tubing when the tool is elevated, a striking pin forming a part of the tool and adapted to strike the pack-off assembly, dislodging the pack-on assembly and simultaneously move the ring member over the fingers of the pack-off assembly disengaging the fingers and well tubing.

2. A tool for removing pack-ofi assemblies from well tubing wherein the pack-01f assemblies are secured by means of spring fingers gripping the well tubing, and including a ring adapted to move the spring fingers to disengage the well tubing, said tool comprising spring fingers adapted to grip the pack-off assembly, means for moving the fingers of the tool out of engagement with the pack-off assembly, and a striking pin carried by the tool and adapted to engage the pack-01f assembly dislodging the pack-01f assembly for removal by the tool.

3. A tool for removing pack-off assemblies from well tubing wherein the pack-off assembly embodies spring fingers adapted to grip the wall of the well tubing and a vertically movable ring contacting with the spring fingers for moving the spring fingers out of contact with the well tubing, said tool embodying normally expanding spring fingers adapted to grip the pack-off assembly, a vertically movable member moving over the fingers of the tool and adapted to press the fingers of the tool inwardly disengaging the fingers of the tool and pack-off assembly, and a reciprocating striking pin carried by the tool and adapted to strike the pack-01f assembly, loosening the packoif assembly within the well tubing for removal by the tool.

WILLIAM E. GEAN. MAYBURN RALPH DOUGHERTY. 

